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Sunday, July 19, 2015

A Beachy Anniversary by Grace Greene

This is my anniversary month. Not an engagement or
wedding anniversary, or the day I met my husband, etc., but rather July is the anniversary
of the publication of my debut novel, Beach Rental. Four years ago, after many
years of writing and hoping, my first novel was published. Beach Rental was the
first of the Emerald Isle, NC stories series and in celebration of the
anniversary—and in celebration of summer, summer vacations and beach trips—I
want to share some of my beach photos from past trips to Emerald Isle. Even if
you’re stuck at home this summer (as I am) there’s more than one way to enjoy
the beach!

First, to find Emerald Isle on the map, go to the Outer
Banks and travel south. When you get to Cape Hatteras, bear southwest across
Ocracoke Island and down to Cape Lookout, then turn right and skip lightly over
Shackleford Banks to the Bogue Banks on the Crystal Coast. Emerald Isle is on
the island of Bogue Banks which runs east-west. I’m mostly a beach walker (as
opposed to a sunbather or swimmer) so this suits me very well. I walk to the
sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening.

Some mornings are misty, some are cloudy, but all are
beautiful with a special mystery in the pre-dawn hours. I’m not usually an
early riser if I have the choice, but as the sea birds skim the water hunting
for breakfast and the sun begins to lighten the sky, I want to be out there
with them.

These pictures are from my sunrise walks, but beach
sunsets are extra special for color and drama, and for how they usher in the
night. The nighttime ocean is dark with light captured only in the foaming
waves. You are surrounded by dark in the eternal roar of tides moving in and
out, while overhead a net of brilliant, countless stars blink on to rule the
night.

In the sunny hours between dawn and dusk, you can
appreciate the wide pristine beaches that stretch the length of Bogue Banks.
These beaches are perfect for families. On the other side of the island is
Bogue Sound with its own special character, but for me, it’s the ocean I love—its
rhythm, its eternity. Regardless of what’s happening in the rest of the world,
the ocean does its own thing. It does what it does without anger or censure or
approval. It is inspiring and it is also deadly. I know that’s true because
when I was thirteen I almost drowned—not at Emerald Isle, but at another beach.
I used some of my memories of that event in Beach Rental.

It doesn’t look like I’ll make it to the beach
this summer due to family responsibilities, but one of the joys of photos, and
the written word too, is their ability to call to mind memories, including how
it feels to have the warm sand beneath my bare feet and the cool leading fringe
of waves tickling my toes, or, in particular, the memories of loved ones and sunny
days of fun.

Grace, all your photos made me miss the beach. We moved from FL to AZ a couple of years ago, and most of the time I don't miss the beach, but today I missed those daily walks with sand between my toes.

Oh, Grace, thank you so much for this vacation! I've been dreaming of the leisurely beach vacations of my youth, knowing I'm not getting one of those anytime soon. And here you handed me a beautiful virtual one, complete with gorgeous pictures! I could almost smell the seaside...